www.BeerGeeks.ca - Devoted to taste, flavour and aroma of good beer. Providing you news, reviews and information on craft brews. The place to for information on new, old and bold brews from around the world!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Ottawa, ONBenefit-corporation certification makes official Beau’s existing mandate to create positive change for local communities and the environment

Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company has become the first-ever Canadian brewery, and one of three breweries in the world, to become certified as a Benefit Corporation or “B Corp.” A Certified B Corp is a for-profit entity that has achieved very high levels of social and environmental performance, and has chosen to consider benefit to community and the environment in business decision-making processes, instead of simple profit. The Eastern-Ontario-based Beau’s All Natural Brewing made the official announcement of their certification this morning.

“We’re building on the same values we started the brewery with seven years ago: essentially, the belief that beer tastes better when you can feel good about drinking it,” says Beau’s co-founder Steve Beauchesne. “For me the B Corp certification is about making a public commitment to maintaining our high ethical standards, and to being open and honest with the people in our communities who buy our beer,” he adds.

Beau’s joins American breweries New Belgium Brewing (Colorado) and Bison Brewing (California) in having become a Certified B Corp. “We are thrilled to see Beau’s leading the Benefit Corporation movement in Canada, confirming that Craft Brewers are a natural ally in this revolution to create more enlightened businesses and therefore, a truly thriving world,” says New Belgium Brewing Co-Founder and CEO Kim Jordan. “Raising our glasses to Beau’s All Natural Brewing today – cheers!”

Bart Houlahan, Co-founder of B Corp, also conveyed his congratulations to the local, award-winning craft brewery, saying Beau’s is “a great example of why B Corps are good businesses.” He adds: “It is exciting to see Beau’s – as a great Canadian business and great Canadian beer – become the first B Corp Certified brewery in Canada. This is an important addition to the ever-growing global movement of entrepreneurs using business as a force for good.”

Thursday, October 24, 2013

B-Side Brewing Label is launching its first brand today, a Nordic Pale Ale from Denmark’s Kissmeyer Beer. Available on a full-time basis, Kissmeyer Nordic Pale Ale is the first beer from the “B-Side Brewing Label,” a new brewing venture from Beau’s All Natural Brewing that will see internationally renowned beers produced, sold, and delivered under the umbrella of the B-Side Brewing Label.

Anders Kissmeyer of Kissmeyer Beer in Denmark is the first brewer to “sign” to the B-Side Brewing Label. His Nordic Pale Ale is an imaginative interpretation of the Pale Ale style and features a unique northern-inspired medley of ingredients. Sweet gale, yarrow, dried heather flowers, rose hips, and cranberries comprise its balanced fruit-and-herb bouquet, while a maple syrup addition rounds out the complex character of the beer. The Nordic Pale Ale features intricate herbal nuance, moderate hop presence, pleasant dryness, and a crisp finish.

“B-Side and Kissmeyer Beer represent a whole new way to bring some of the best beer in the world to Ontario, while offering the freshness and excitement of a local craft beer,” commented Beau’s co-founder Steve Beauchesne.

Presented in a signature B-Side Brewing Label 600 ml bottle, Kissmeyer Nordic Pale Ale is now available at the LCBO for a retail price of $4.85. The Nordic Pale Ale is also available at select restaurants and pubs, the Beau’s retail store at the brewery, and through the Ottawa-based home delivery service BYBO (www.bybo.ca). More information about the new B-Side Brewing Label will be available soon at the newly created website www.b-side.ca, which will also, in future, feature news about upcoming releases from the brewing label.

The inaugural OCB Brewmaster's Choice pack includes six hand-crafted beer styles, hand-selected by OCB brewmasters to further educate consumers about different styles of premium beer and help beer lovers take the next step forward in the journey of discovering the broad selection of craft beers available in Ontario.

"The OCB brewmasters have picked the best beer to complement the other brewmaster's choices in the 6-pack," says Bill Coleman, President & Co-Owner, Cameron's Brewing Company. It's less about the seasons and more about the continued journey of discovery for craft beer lovers. The OCB Brewmaster's Choice is great for sharing, as a gift or for one's personal tour through Ontario Craft Beer.

The pack includes a few "gateway" beers for first time purchasers as well as more challenging beers for the beer connoisseur, including:

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Ontario Craft Brewers (OCB) are pleased to announce the winners of the OCB Centre of Excellence Awards, presented last evening at a special ceremony and beer dinner at Amsterdam BrewHouse by the Lake in Toronto. The awards took place following OCB's annual one-day industry conference held at the Allstream Centre in Toronto and attended by over 300 brewing industry professionals, suppliers and stakeholders.

"The Centre of Excellence Awards, also known as the "Industry Choice Awards", are an opportunity for the craft brewing community - and its fans - to nominate and celebrate - the good work of their beer heroes," said Bill Coleman, President of Cameron's Brewing Co. and Master of Ceremonies for the day-long event.

The goal of the industry awards is to recognize examples of excellence among small, medium and large organizations that drive the craft brewing industry at the local, regional, national or international level. Initial nominations were pared down to the top three nominees per category and final voting took place online.

Below is the list of winners in the six categories of recognition:

Product Quality & Process Innovation: Steam Whistle Brewing

Marketing Innovation: Toronto Festival of Beer

Education Leadership: Kevin Somerville, Oast House Brewers

Food and Beer Matching Development: Bill White, Better with Beer

Sustainability Accomplishments: Steam Whistle Brewing

Community Building: WinterBrewed, outdoor beer festival, Ottawa

The winners received a specially mounted tap handle award sponsored by Canadian Beverage Supply Inc.

There were 65 nominees throughout the industry - from brewers, to brewery owners, production people, sales staff and certified beer experts. OCB also wishes to congratulate the top three nominees in each category:
Product Quality & Process Innovation: Steam Whistle Brewing; Muskoka Brewery; and, Old Credit Brewing Co.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

With six events under their belt, the Ladies Beer League (LBL) is gearing up for their most ambitious event yet – Halifax’s first Cask Beer Festival at the city’s newest Craft Beer Bar, The Stubborn Goat on Grafton Street. The LBL Cask Fest will take place in two sessions on November 17th: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Tickets cost $35.00 per session and include 8 samples glasses.

Cask Fest will feature unique, one-off, cask-conditioned ales from seven different maritime craft breweries. According to LBL Co-founder Tracy Phillippi, “Cask-conditioned ales have taken off in other Canadian cities, and until now, is a tradition kept by only a few breweries in Halifax. With the promising growth in the Nova Scotia craft brewing industry, we really hope to foster a culture that encourages Cask appreciation”. Cask beer is unfiltered, unpasteurized ale that is traditionally fermented inside a 40 L barrel. It’s smooth, flavourful and gives the brewers an opportunity to exercise their creativity.

Attendees will be issued an event “passport” and encouraged to try each cask once. The most popular Cask voted by the attendees will be deemed the “2013 Cask Beer of the Year” by the LBL.

LBL Co-founder Pam Crouse says “We are excited to bring together some of the best microbreweries in the maritimes, to provide a rare opportunity for the public to enjoy these unique brews under one roof, and to talk to the men and women who make them.”

Unlike previous events, LBL Cask Fest will be open to all genders. According to Tracy Phillippi “The
Ladies Beer League is not about pitching women against men, it’s about leveling the playing field and having equal representation at all craft beer events”.

Partial proceeds will go to the Ladies Beer League to help them continue to host engaging and educational craft beer events across Nova Scotia.

Tickets go on sale on Sunday October 13th at 12:00 p.m. and can be purchased at LBLCaskFest.eventbrite.ca. The LBL advises you to get your tickets early!

The seven participating breweries, along with their unique creations, will be released at a later date.

Friday, October 11, 2013

All locations of The Beer Store will CLOSED on MONDAY, OCTOBER 14th, 2013 to observe Thanksgiving Day. Stores will be open regular hours on the Sunday and Tuesday.

The Beer Store would like to remind you that they take back 100% of all beer packaging as well as all wine and spirit containers. The Beer Store also wishes to remind you to please, drink responsibly. Wishing their customers and employees a safe and happy holiday.

Please note that many of the Ontario Craft Brewery retail shops will be open for your Monday beer purchases. Please enjoy some delicious local Ontario beer.

Thursday, October 10, 2013

LCBO stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Monday, October 14, 2013, as it is a statutory holiday. Regular hours of operation will resume on Tuesday, October 15.

All LCBO stores will have regular hours of business on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13.

Some LCBO agency stores will observe their normal hours of business on Monday, October 14. Agency stores are locally-owned retail establishments that contract with the LCBO to sell beverage alcohol and other products in communities that are too small to support LCBO stores.

All LCBO offices, including LCBO Customer Service and the helloLCBO Contact Centre, will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Customers should check for individual store hours with their local LCBO store or online at www.lcbo.com using the 'Store Search' feature. They can also contact the toll-free, bilingual helloLCBO Contact Centre at 1-800-ONT-LCBO (668-5226) or online at www.hellolcbo.com. In Toronto, call 416 365-5900. The TTY number for people who are deaf and hard of hearing is 416 864-6898 or 1-800-361-3291.

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

The Grand Theatre’s Arts and Draughts beer tasting event is back and “grand-er” than ever!

Last year’s sold-out event saw The Grand Theatre play host to six Ontario microbreweries. This year, the number has increased to ten. Featured breweries include: Flying Monkeys, Great Lakes, Lake of Bays, Muskoka, Nickel Brook, Sawdust City, Silversmith, Stone Hammer, Wellington and London’s own brand new brewery: Forked River.

Tickets include three tastings (additional tastings are available at a minimal cost), live music by BA Baracus and Ellie K, a live painting performance by YouTube sensation Darryn Rae plus a penny auction of fabulous prizes and appetizers by Milos’ Craft Beer Emporium.

Proceeds from Arts and Draughts support youth programming and operations at The Grand Theatre.

Tickets are $30 each and are available at The Grand Theatre Box office and at www.grandtheatre.com or by calling 519.672.8800.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Beau’s All Natural Brewing’s 5th annual Oktoberfest, the brewery’s signature fundraising event, raised more than $75,000 this past weekend in Vankleek Hill, bringing the five year total raised to $242,000. The event was attended by more than 12,000 revelers during the two-day celebration of Bavarian culture, craft beer, independent music, and artisan food.

The charities benefitting from the 2013 edition of the event follow past years’ selections of organizations that fit Beau’s ethics of environmental, social and local community. This year’s charities included:
• Canadian Canoe Foundation – Develops watershed-health education projects that culminate in youth leadership canoe trips
• United Way Ottawa – Improve lives and build community by engaging individuals and mobilizing collective action
• Kiva – Connects people through lending to alleviate poverty
• Just Food – Works towards building a vibrant, just and sustainable food system in the Ottawa region
• Rethink Breast Cancer – Supports young adults concerned about or affected by breast cancer though education and research
• Ottawa Community Skateboard Association – Works to build more efficiently designed skateboard parks
• Vankleek Hill Cougars – Junior ice hockey team based in Vankleek Hill
• Vankleek Hill Agricultural Society – Supports and promotes the local farming community

“The Canadian Canoe Foundation is thrilled to be the recipient of a $25,000 dollar donation from Beau’s Brewery,” stated Patrick Henry, Founder and President of the Canadian Canoe Foundation. “This generous support will be directed to our 2014 National Paddling Week contest, which will see one youth from each of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories join us on a seven-day environmental education canoe trip adventure. Special guest on the trip? Kathleen Edwards! A big thanks to Beau’s.”

Beau’s co-founders Tim and Steve Beauchesne were also recognized with a surprise award this weekend from the United Way. The Community Builder Award recognized Beau’s as “helping to build a stronger, healthier, and safer community for all of us.” In addition to the award, Beau’s will be added to the Wall of Inspiration located in Ottawa City Hall. The Wall of Inspiration is described as being a visible reminder to residents and visitors of the enduring commitment that individuals and organizations have made to Ottawa.

“Beer tastes best when you can feel good about drinking it,” shared Beau’s co-founder, Steve Beauchesne. “I love that our little brewery has such generous and enthusiastic fans and that we can help our community by throwing a party,” he added.

Evening entertainment at Oktoberfest featured award-winning and renowned independent artists Walter Ostanek, Kathleen Edwards, Sloan, The Sadies, Young Rival, The Mahones, The Balconies, and Rich Aucoin. Bavarian and seasonally inspired creations were also available from more than 20 Ontario restaurants, while activities like the stein-hold struggle and spouse-carrying race tested attendees’ endurance and strength.

The Members of Barleyment and Beau’s Homebrew Competition received an unprecedented 182 entries from across Canada. Jared Carlberg of Winnipeg, Manitoba was the winner of the Judge’s Choice with his “Goat of Mendes” Doppelbock, and has won the grand prize of brewing a full-sized batch of beer at Beau’s. The People’s Choice winner was Joe Rancourt with his “Death Dealer” Rye IPA.

Beau’s 2013 Oktoberfest by the numbers:
$75,000: Amount of dollars raised for charity
$300,000: Amount spent on local businesses for Oktoberfest goods and services
66,000: Number of glasses of beer served
12,000: Number of attendees
400: Number of kegs tapped
55: Number of casks sampled
17: Number of people submerged in dunk tank of beer
1: Number of wedding ceremonies performed

BeerTrips.com is offering this special Pints for Prostates group tour to Germany to the public on a limited basis. Just 14 slots are available for this tour at $2,995 (+ air) based on double occupancy ($625 single room supplement). The tour will be hosted by Pints for Prostates founder and beer journalist Rick Lyke. Visit www.BeerTrips.com for details.

“This will be the fourth time we have teamed up with BeerTrips.com for a special Pints for Prostates European beer trip. This itinerary includes some amazing breweries and is really a unique way to experience Germany,” said Lyke. “We are thrilled to continue our partnership to help us raise funds and spread the word to men about the importance of regular prostate health screenings and early detection.”

“This is one of the most popular BeerTrips.com itineraries because it explores the best of Bavaria and Franconia,” said Mike Saxton, founder of BeerTrips.com. “We offer small groups an intimate experience with the chance for insider tours of some of the most famous breweries in the world. If you love beer and love to travel, this trip gives you a chance to experience the German countryside and some classic small cities that offer tremendous beers.”

As part of the BeerTrips.com and Pints for Prostates partnership, Pints for Prostates will raffle a trip for two for the special trip. For a $10 donation for a single ticket, $25 donation for three tickets or $50 for seven tickets, donors will be entered to win the trip that includes:

The total value of the trip for two is estimated at $8,500. The drawing will be held on July 27, 2014. The prize is non-transferable. No cash substitute will be offered. The winner and their guest are responsible for obtaining passports and all trip related costs not outlined above. You must be 21 years old to enter.